Water skate



- 'WATER SKATE Specification of Letters Patent'.

Application filed July 6, 1921. Serial No. 482,810.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, TEOFIL MrcHAnsKna citizen of Poland, residing at Manvllle, 1n the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Water Skates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to water skates for use in traveling along the water, the invention comprises brieiy, a pair of float elements adapted for attachment to the feet of the water user.

The invention has for a general object the provision of a novel and eiiclent pair ofwater skates, other specific objects of the invention relating to the means for connecting the two float elements together to permit of the necessary relative movement while maintaining them against spreading.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, references will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view illustrating my improved water skates in actual use. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the skates.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings my improved water skates comprise a pair of hollow float or skate elements 10 provided with closed tops 11, these iioats being shaped in approved stream line form to reduce to'a minimum the resistance to forward movement through the water. Upon the top of each float, and adjacent the inner side thereof, is fixed a foot plate 13 on which the foot of the user rests, being secured by straps 14 carried by the foot-plates.

To allow of relative movement of the two floats necessary to forward progression I provide the following means: Fixed to the Vinner side of one of the floats is a longitudinal rail 16 which may be secured in place by means of the integral bracket elements 16 on the ends thereof which are riveted to the iioat.

The other float has fixed thereto a pair of hinged brackets 18 to which are hinged the ends of a pair of rigid links 19 whose outer ends are formed with eyesy engaging freely Vover the rail 16, the links being hinged to s wing in a transverse vertical plane. These links preferably have rollers 19 mounted thereon which engage the side of the rail 16 to reduce the friction and may have sharpened forward edges 19a to cut the v water.

As will be apparent, when the skates are in use, as indicated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, each skate may' have an upward swinging and a forward movement with respect to the other, the rail 16 being of sufficient greater length than the distance between the links 19 to enable a relative longitudinal movement corresponding to a forward step to take place.

I preferably provide on the top of each float 10 a valve 22 of the type common on pneumatic tires so that an air pressure can be introduced into the ioats which will act to counterbalance the compressive force of the water, thus permitting of a lighter construction of the ioats.

To enable the skates to be also used upon roads or walks or other land surfaces, they are preferably provided with small wheels or rollers 24 of which there are here shown four for each skate, located at the front and rear and opposite sides thereof. These rollers project down below the floats 10 and are mounted in suitable brackets 25 to the latter.

It is believed that the manner of use of my improved water stood from the above description. As each skate is lifted, the corresponding foot, of the user is swung upward and inward to the other leg, being then moved forward and lowered with a reverse motion, the connection between the skates preventing them from spreading apart while permitting free manipulation thereof.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that various changes and modifications are contemplated as coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patentk of the .Unitedl States is as follows:

1. A deviceof the class described comprising a pair of floats, a longitudinalv rail Asecured to one float, and links carried by the other float and pivotally connecting to the skates will be readily under- 5 secured to one float, and links carriedloyth` x, other float and pivotally connecting to the l said rail, said links being pivotally attached signature.

to the said second float, the said rail being of substantially greater length than the distance between said links.

"In testimony Whereoil have afHXed my TEOFIL MICHALSKI. 

